Echoes
“Echoes of Extinction: The Vanishing Wild and the Dreams of Tomorrow”
“Losing Nature, Losing Hope: Biodiversity Decline and the Next Generation”
The extinction of species is a natural process that has accompanied the Earth for millions of years. However, the rate at which organisms are currently disappearing is unprecedented and largely caused by human activity. Although the extinction of one species may seem insignificant, its consequences the so-called “extinction echoes” can reverberate through entire ecosystems, affecting other organisms, the environment and even humans. Biological diversity, or biodiversity, is much more than just the multitude of species.
It is the foundation of life on Earth, affecting every aspect of our existence from the air we breathe to the food that ends up on our plates. Why is biodiversity so important? It ensures the stability of ecosystems diverse ecosystems are more resistant to environmental changes and natural disasters. Biodiversity provides us with a source of food and medicines. Many agricultural products, as well as medicines, come from biological resources. It regulates the climate and purity of waters, plants and microorganisms play a role in purifying the air and water and in absorbing carbon dioxide. Biodiversity also has cultural and aesthetic value.
Contact with nature affects our mental health and sense of aesthetics. Young people do not think about what tomorrow will bring them, but they should, because the decline in biodiversity will significantly affect the next generations. The disappearance of one link in the food chain can lead to the excessive growth or extinction of other species. The lack of pollinators, such as bees, will affect food production. The impoverishment of genetic diversity will weaken the resistance of ecosystems to diseases and climate change.
The loss of the cultural heritage of the next generations can be of great importance, because many species have symbolic, religious or mythological values. Changes in the lifestyle of local communities e.g. tribes dependent on a specific species may lose their source of food, raw materials or spiritual inspiration. The next generations will lose income from nature tourism, e.g. the extinction of rhinos or tigers affects the attractiveness of regions.
The next generations will bear the costs of ecological compensation, e.g. it will be necessary to artificially pollinate plants or control the population of pests, which is not easy at all.In Poland, for example, the Asian ladybug (Coccinella septempunctata) was introduced to combat aphids, which led to the death of our native species, the seven-spot ladybug. I am 13 years old and I have been observing this fact for a long time. In kindergarten, I drew it in illustrations, today I do not remember when was the last time I had the opportunity to meet it. Humanity will lose potential medicines, because many species contain unique chemical compounds that can be used in medicine.
“Echoes of extinction” is not just a metaphor. It is a reality that affects us all. Every species that disappears leaves a void that resonates in nature, culture and the economy. Therefore, protecting biodiversity is not a choice of the young generation, but a necessity. With the extinction of species, hope and dreams of human existence will disappear.
The actions of every person on Earth determine whether future generations will be able to hear birdsong, see wild animals and enjoy the benefits of nature. Species extinction is therefore not only a drama of the present. It is also a silent debt that we incur towards future generations. Every species that disappears is a loss that is not only biological, but also cultural, economic and emotional. “Echoes of extinction” resonate long after the last individual disappears from the face of the Earth and it is our children and grandchildren who will have to face their consequences.
By: Ksawier Kaba
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